This was my 4th time going to EC, and it was great as always — although I did think that it was short. I was going to EC hoping to be re-ignited.
As backstory, before EC, there was just a bunch of things that went on that made me feel weaker and burnt out as a christian. I wont get into the specifics but I was burnt out.
However, after pastor Inatomi’s message on the last day, I really felt my faith reignite. In the message, at the very end, he mentioned a time when he was in Korea at a retreat similar to EC. He was on a bus and a senior asked him
“you’re christian right?”
He responded with “yeah I am”.
The senior then asked “when did you become christian?”
He would respond with “oh i got baptized when I was 11”.
The guy responded with “ohh thats amazing, but when did you become a christian?”.
Pastor Inatomi responded with “oh well, I’ve been going to church ever since I was little”.
The senior then responded “ohh that’s amazing, but when did you become christian?”
And this kind of conversation would go on and on for a while. But after that little back and forth conversation, the senior eventually said “Im asking this because I was change last month. I really understood that Jesus died on the cross for my sins.”
However, pastor Inatomi after hearing that said, “kennchanaeo, (I’m good)” and just ran off the bus.
However, from then on, he just could not sleep. He was questioning himself “did Jesus really die for me?” “Do I really know that? Can I say im a christian?”
This really stood out and was really similar to how I was feeling. Growing up in a Christian household, I’ve been told that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, etc etc, but until now, I really never thought about how much it meant. I never really understood that even if I was the only person on earth, he would’ve died on the cross for my sins. After this message, we sung “我が喜びの理由(Waga Yorokobi no Riyuu)”. Within the lyrics, at least for the Japanese version, it says “the reason for my joy, thanks, and my praise is you alone.” “Glory in the name of Jesus, glory to his name, I will forever lift you in praise.”
During this, I really lost it since God is the reason for my joy, thanks, praise, and everything, but before EC, I did not fully understand this. I am really grateful to be able to go to EC, see new friends, create new friends with the same faith, and learn more about God. 
You can listen to EC25 message on Podcast. Please enjoy!
